Football: Reid irked by attacks on his All Whites absences

Winston Reid has played a third of New Zealand's games since 2010. Photo / Photosport.

Winston Reid says he remains committed to the All Whites but the frequency of his appearances may vary in the future.

The West Ham defender admits he gets annoyed by the adverse reaction of the New Zealand footballing community when he is unavailable for the national team.

Reid's priorities were a talking point recently, as he sat out the All Whites game in Oman, working his way back to full fitness, but then spent a few days holidaying in neighbouring Dubai with club team-mates.

It was widely covered in New Zealand media but Reid says it was a non-issue.

"When I went to Myanmar, the trip was worse because I had to fly 13 hours to Bangkok and [then] to Myanmar," says Reid. "But there, I was physically fine and there were no problems.

"[For Oman], they were saying 'OK, go off, you need a break - come back from your injury'. The trip was actually closer and more convenient. I was already out there anyway. It's a juggling act, really."

Reid has played just 11 internationals out of 33 since the 2010 World Cup, when he burst on to the international stage and set up his West Ham move.

Sometimes it has been down to unavailability, although he has also been dogged by injury in the past 18 months.

His situation is not unique. Former captain Ryan Nelsen barely turned out for his country during the first half of his spell playing professionally in England, as he focused on getting established at Blackburn.

But Reid's commitment is frequently questioned.

"I do get annoyed about it," he says. "I genuinely don't think people - and this is just my personal opinion - know what you have to go through. It's tough.

"The public have a general perception of, 'Why doesn't he come back? He doesn't really want to play.'

From the outside, people might have that perception but it is not like I'm calling up the day before and saying, 'I'm not coming, I can't be bothered'.

The talks go on for a month or so and we are texting constantly."

Reid is the sole Kiwi in a league many consider the world's toughest.

Other countries might produce better individual clubs but the English Premier League, with no winter break, every club being competitive, intense media focus and irregular scheduling, is unparalleled in its demands. It's also cut-throat.

Reid's presence means Italian international Angelo Ogbonna, part of the Juventus team that made last year's Champions League final, is on the bench. His club standards have to remain high.

"There could be times where I come back three or four times in a year and play all the games and sometimes I might play one or two," says Reid. "It is just about managing things. That's the most important thing.

I've had a lot of conversations with [All Whites coach] Anthony [Hudson] and he understands that.

"It's getting tougher. It's not like before, when I was 21. But if I am fit, and I feel I can genuinely give 100 per cent, then I go. I've been before - played in New Zealand, played in China, then travelled back. If I can do it, I will. If I can't, we need to have a conversation about it."